1. < Blood Cancers & Disorders

M-Spike, High Kappa and Kappa/Lambda Ratio

Posted by Kappa King @kappaking, Mar 8 10:34pm

After experiencing chronic diarrhea for > four weeks, I decided to contact my gastro doctor. He ordered blood work and performed a colonoscopy and upper endoscopy with various biopsies. The colonoscopy, upper endoscopy and biopsies showed no sign of cancer or microscopic colitis, however the blood work showed a quite elevated IgA level. He referred me to a hematologist/oncologist who did further blood work, the results of which showed:

• Borderline low white blood count
• Borderline high red cell distribution width
• Low lymphocytes
• Low monocytes

And the most troublesome results:

• Kappa Free Light Chain Level: 290.7 mg/L, well outside of the 3.3-19.4 mg/L acceptable range
• Kappa/Lambda Ratio: 45, well outside of the .26-1.65 acceptable range
• IgA Level: 2111 mg/dL, well outside of the 70-400 mg/dL acceptable range
• IgG level of 698 mg/dL, barely outside of the 700-1660 mg/dL
• M-Spike: 1.29

There are other data points outside the reference ranges, but these are the ones that concern me most. I had been overseas when I received the results and asked my hematologist if I should cut my vacation short to come home for further evaluation/tests. He urged me not to do so and told me it can wait. I managed to enjoy my vacation but now that I returned I can't stop worrying. I'm following up with my hematologist to see what the next step is. I'm scared.

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ChefT | @cheft | Mar 14 9:07am
In reply to @leslie2121 "Good morning ChefT: That’s the $64,000 question, right? The only things I can think of are..." + (show)
@leslie2121

Good morning ChefT:

That’s the $64,000 question, right? The only things I can think of are time and adding curcumin capsules. I’ve since added omega 3 and tart Cherry extract for some aches & pains which seem to help. I took medication for osteoporosis that I think caused those arthritis like pains.
My doctor didn’t know why or how to explain my latest SPEP and without another BMB couldn’t know. But it said I had “ small peaks in several lanes with no clearly identifiable monoclonal protein”.
The other + thing is my proteinuria is gone and no sign of kidney disease. (Which was also a recent issue)
FLCs took a big drop too.
I was diagnosed about 2 years ago during a physical and work up for osteoporosis.
My (controversial) speculation is perhaps the Moderna vaccine triggered something. I had 2 + 2 boosters between 2021-2022.
I am generally pro-vaccine and a retired nurse. 🤷🏻‍♀️

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Thanks. I was diagnosed 2 years ago and have been taking high dose Curcumin as well

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1 reply
2121 | @leslie2121 | Mar 14 9:29am
In reply to @cheft "Thanks. I was diagnosed 2 years ago and have been taking high dose Curcumin as well" + (show)
@cheft

Thanks. I was diagnosed 2 years ago and have been taking high dose Curcumin as well

Jump to this post

Can you tell if it’s helped?

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ChefT | @cheft | Mar 14 10:35am

I can say my light chains did decrease a little. These are the two Curcumin I take. I also take some Omega 3 supplements with them.

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1 reply
2121 | @leslie2121 | Mar 14 10:59am
In reply to @cheft "I can say my light chains did decrease a little. These are the two Curcumin I..." + (show)
@cheft

I can say my light chains did decrease a little. These are the two Curcumin I take. I also take some Omega 3 supplements with them.

Jump to this post

Hope you continue to do well. I go back in August for recheck and if stays stable or improves will go to yearly.

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aczatx47131 | @aczatx47131 | Mar 14 11:04am
In reply to @kayabbott "Thanks for the background info; she is quite accomplished. It would be good if Dr. Shah..." + (show)
@kayabbott

Thanks for the background info; she is quite accomplished. It would be good if Dr. Shah fleshed out (so to speak) her website with some links to research papers. Great that she got a best abstract award. Reminds me of an abstract that I submitted years ago (retired) that was rejected for a symposium, although the resulting paper received a best paper award. Science is fun(damental).

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Here is a video of Dr. Shah’s talk with the San Francisco Bay Area Myeloma Support Group. You can listen to the presentation and/ or download her slides.

Living Well With Myeloma: Can Nutrition Improve Quality of Life and Outcomes in Myeloma?
https://www.myeloma.org/videos/living-well-myeloma-can-nutrition-improve-quality-life-outcomes-myeloma

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splashgirl1961 | @splashgirl1961 | Mar 15 6:05am
In reply to @barbdk "Mayo does bone marrow biopsies using propofol. You’re out for the few minutes and then back!..." + (show)
@barbdk

Mayo does bone marrow biopsies using propofol. You’re out for the few minutes and then back! It’s amazing.

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I had one MD ANDERSON WITH ONLY LOCAL lidocaine. It was practically painless. I’ve had dentist hurt me more! No driver needed after procedure.

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ChefT | @cheft | Mar 15 7:44am
In reply to @leslie2121 "Good morning ChefT: That’s the $64,000 question, right? The only things I can think of are..." + (show)
@leslie2121

Good morning ChefT:

That’s the $64,000 question, right? The only things I can think of are time and adding curcumin capsules. I’ve since added omega 3 and tart Cherry extract for some aches & pains which seem to help. I took medication for osteoporosis that I think caused those arthritis like pains.
My doctor didn’t know why or how to explain my latest SPEP and without another BMB couldn’t know. But it said I had “ small peaks in several lanes with no clearly identifiable monoclonal protein”.
The other + thing is my proteinuria is gone and no sign of kidney disease. (Which was also a recent issue)
FLCs took a big drop too.
I was diagnosed about 2 years ago during a physical and work up for osteoporosis.
My (controversial) speculation is perhaps the Moderna vaccine triggered something. I had 2 + 2 boosters between 2021-2022.
I am generally pro-vaccine and a retired nurse. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Jump to this post

Well in that case, I’m out. No way I’m getting anymore vid shots. Only reason I took the two in the first place was under duress. And even then I took them 3 months apart not how they suggested

REPLY
1 reply
2121 | @leslie2121 | Mar 15 8:44am
In reply to @cheft "Well in that case, I’m out. No way I’m getting anymore vid shots. Only reason I..." + (show)
@cheft

Well in that case, I’m out. No way I’m getting anymore vid shots. Only reason I took the two in the first place was under duress. And even then I took them 3 months apart not how they suggested

Jump to this post

As my doctor said when I ventured the idea, we will know in 20-30 years when we have the data.
I think overall, the mRNA vaccines saved millions of lives, but for a few of us may not be a good risk/benefit.

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aczatx47131 | @aczatx47131 | Mar 15 8:52pm

Healthtree Webinar

How to Optimize Your Health as a Myeloma Patient
Nutrition and Wellness for Myeloma
event
Mar 21, 2024 / 01:00PM - 02:00PM EDT

Healthtree.org

REPLY
Kappa King | @kappaking | Mar 22 5:29am

So, as I mentioned in another post, on or about March 12th I was scheduled for a bone marrow biopsy to take place on April 2nd. My hematologist/oncologist has not advised me to get bone scans or to undergo a 24-hour urine test - at least not yet. I don't understand why those tests cannot be done in parallel while I'm waiting to have the bone marrow biopsy done. Should I be concerned about this? Should I be more proactive and insistent with my hematologist/oncologist that these tests be done? Maybe there's a reason why he's waiting until after the biopsy to have me undergo these additional tests.

I want to be my own advocate, but I have no medical background and feel that I would be overstepping my bounds if I question the doctor.

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